??s about Colt Commander 1991

[supermario]

Hello,

I was thinking about buying a Colt Commander 1991 model 04691
The only thing I didn't like was the sights. How hard is it to change out the sights with some novak style sights? Do they just swap in or does it need to be milled out? Sorry ive never owned a 1911 but the other day I saw a RIA tactical and fell in love with it. Its going to be used for fun only. I also like the commander style and read good reviews about the Colt Commander 1991.

Any of you guys own the Commander 1991 series?


I just saw the 10-8 sights on youtube. They look a lil better. Anybody have some installed?


Thanks

[Stanze]

Novak sights need to be milled out for installation which adds to the cost of the pistol.

I don't have any experience with 10-8 sights; they look good.

I have Novak sights on my Colt XSE 1911; the only thing about them is that it's more challenging to do emergency one handed racking if needed.

You'd need to to use the smaller area of the front Novak sight which puts you closer to the muzzle. I could probably remedy this by replacing the FLGR with a G.I. guide rod and plug.

The stock sights on the 1991 should be easy to do one handed racking off the rear sight. I'd suggest leaving them on and spending the money on ammo. Plus, the 1991 already comes with a G.I. guide rod and plug.

[supermario]

Cool thanks for the info. Probably best to leave it as is. Thanks again

Novak sights need to be milled out for installation which adds to the cost of the pistol.

I don't have any experience with 10-8 sights; they look good.

I have Novak sights on my Colt XSE 1911; the only thing about them is that it's more challenging to do emergency one handed racking if needed.

You'd need to to use the smaller area of the front Novak sight which puts you closer to the muzzle. I could probably remedy this by replacing the FLGR with a G.I. guide rod and plug.

The stock sights on the 1991 should be easy to do one handed racking off the rear sight. I'd suggest leaving them on and spending the money on ammo. Plus, the 1991 already comes with a G.I. guide rod and plug.

[highpower]

I have been actively shooting for over 50 years now and my advice to new shooters is to resist the urge to fiddle with a new gun and just go shoot it a lot before you decide to change stuff around.

With the advent of the internet, so many people think that you absolutely have to do a bunch of work on a gun to make it "better" when in reality, what they should be doing is practicing to increase their skill level. All whoop-de-do add on stuff will not make you a better or more accurate shooter. Only practice will do that.

[keith1911]

I've got a pair of 10-8 1911 sights installed on a Browning Hi Power and I really like them. They are easy to pick up. I have the tritium front sight and it makes things easy to line up. I did have some on a 1911 I sold too.

As far as fitting you're going to need to have someone mill the front and rear of the slide to fit them. Then you'll need to have it recoated somehow.

I do agree with the guys above about shooting it first before deciding to change things around though.

[Ripon83]

Since the XSE Models fell off the roster I suppose someone will demand premiums but I still see them in the market place (some at fair pricing) now and then. I'd suggest watching for one; even the commander size. You don't have to add sights to the last legal commander that way and NIB is certainly possible. Though I keep telling myself this about their 9mm's and never see one reasonable.

[Colt]

Colt Commanders are awesome. The above posts are good advice - don't mess with a new pistol. Frankly, the newish Colt sights such as those on the O4691 are (for me, anyway) pretty easy to pick up.

Good luck!

Oh, and fair warning - it's really hard to stop at just one Colt Commander...

[Issara]

I got a Colt Commander recently too. got it for a decent price. I will keep it stock and I do like the sites on it already, not hard on my eyes. The only modification right away is to put custom grips on it, that way the original grips stay in mint condition.

[1911ShooterPhil]

Sight recommendations...

Hello,

I was thinking about buying a Colt Commander 1991 model 04691
The only thing I didn't like was the sights. How hard is it to change out the sights with some novak style sights? Do they just swap in or does it need to be milled out? Sorry ive never owned a 1911 but the other day I saw a RIA tactical and fell in love with it. Its going to be used for fun only. I also like the commander style and read good reviews about the Colt Commander 1991.

Any of you guys own the Commander 1991 series?


I just saw the 10-8 sights on youtube. They look a lil better. Anybody have some installed?


Thanks

The Colt Commander is an awesome pistol. I've customized five 1911 pistols. They were all Rock Island Armory 1911s: 3 GI in .45ACP, 1 GI in 9mm, and 1 compact in .45ACP. If you just want to replace the sights with something easier to see, try these:

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/sight-sets/1911-fixed-white-dot-sight-sets-prod70726.aspx

The rear sight will drift in place and replace the Colt rear sight. The front sight is narrow tenon and will need to be staked. A gunsmith can do that easily for you.

If you prefer Novak-type sights, then you will need to have a gunsmith mill the front and the rear for Novak-cut.

But, I believe you're looking for something more like this:

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/rear-sights/1911-white-dot-rear-sights-prod70898.aspx

662-000-028WB
WD 1911/LM/WN uses Front .185"-.200",Rear Blade .735"x.425

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/front-sights/1911-front-white-dot-dovetail-sights-prod70867.aspx

662-000-062WB
Govt, White, .185" height

Brownells has all the parts you could need. Talk to a gunsmith to get the sights installed. I recommend Mark Bunach (www.ocgunsmith.com). I hope that information helps.

Semper Fi! --1911ShooterPhil

[ar15robert]

Novak sights need to be milled out for installation which adds to the cost of the pistol.

I don't have any experience with 10-8 sights; they look good.

I have Novak sights on my Colt XSE 1911; the only thing about them is that it's more challenging to do emergency one handed racking if needed.

You'd need to to use the smaller area of the front Novak sight which puts you closer to the muzzle. I could probably remedy this by replacing the FLGR with a G.I. guide rod and plug.

The stock sights on the 1991 should be easy to do one handed racking off the rear sight. I'd suggest leaving them on and spending the money on ammo. Plus, the 1991 already comes with a G.I. guide rod and plug.

I have one of the older colt 1991 and i still have the old style sights and dont mind them but yeh the one handed racking can be done easily.Have had the gun for about 18 years and its had thousands of rounds thru it still a great shooter.All i have had done was a trigger job to lighten the pull.

[gunsandrockets]

What's the Best?

I have been actively shooting for over 50 years now and my advice to new shooters is to resist the urge to fiddle with a new gun and just go shoot it a lot before you decide to change stuff around.

With the advent of the internet, so many people think that you absolutely have to do a bunch of work on a gun to make it "better" when in reality, what they should be doing is practicing to increase their skill level. All whoop-de-do add on stuff will not make you a better or more accurate shooter. Only practice will do that.

You mean the intertubes are wrong?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5CBuyx1whw

[jonzer77]

My advice is that a quality set of sights you can see is one of the most important aspects. GI sights are famous for being poor.

I agree. A good pair of sights is essential. The Colt GI sights are pretty bad but fortunately they can be easily replaced.

10-8 and harrison design make a sight that fits the factory rear dovetail.

[supermario]

I'm not a pro but I'm not a new shooter. Been shooting since I was 5yrs old.
But I am totally new to 1911s so I will take your advice and leave it alone for now. If I feel the need, I will upgrade sights. I usually don't like to do upgrades anyways, but those sights didn't look that great. One reason I like the 1991 Commander is because it has the old authentic look. I don't want a decked out 1k+ 1911.

I leave my Glocks and Hks bone stock and shoot them well. Thanks for your advice.

I have been actively shooting for over 50 years now and my advice to new shooters is to resist the urge to fiddle with a new gun and just go shoot it a lot before you decide to change stuff around.

With the advent of the internet, so many people think that you absolutely have to do a bunch of work on a gun to make it "better" when in reality, what they should be doing is practicing to increase their skill level. All whoop-de-do add on stuff will not make you a better or more accurate shooter. Only practice will do that.

[stevec223]

You can always buy some site paint and touch up your front site.. And / or your rear site also.. Michaels art store has many different colors ..A toothpick or very small brush works best...I'm playing with their "outdoor" rated paint now... Holds very well but still removable with gunscrubber and bronze brush if you don't like color... The fromt site is the big deal to me on my 1911's.. Can be a big difference to low or slight sites... Try it... Cheers...

[cannon]

As I get older it gets harder and harder to use those little sights.

Swapping them out to better sights is not hard or expensive at all.

You are lucky in that American Gunworks in Glendale (Used to be Kings) has an experienced 1911 smith named Willie. He can upgrade those sights with no muss or fuss.

No offense meant here but... It's going to be a long time before that particular model pistol will be a collectors item. So you may as well get some good sights on it and enjoy shooting it. You won't wear it out and you'll always be able to get your money back if you decide to sell next year or ten years from now.

(Had to laugh when I saw where you are. Grew up there.)